-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Attackers firebombed three churches in the southeast Asian nation of Malaysia overnight , assaults that come amid widespread Muslim ire over a court ruling that allowed Christians to use the word Allah as a term for God .

Malaysian news reports said no casualties have been reported , and police have promised to step up security for churches and other places of worship .

But the acts stirred unease in the diverse society -- where 60 percent of the people are Muslim , 19 percent are Buddhist , 9 percent are Christian and 6 percent are Hindu .

`` We regret the irresponsible actions of certain extremist elements for the recent spate of firebombs thrown into church premises . These actions display their immaturity and intolerance toward others within a multi-racial society , '' the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia said in a statement .

The violence comes as Muslims protest a recent court ruling that allowed a Catholic newspaper to use the word `` Allah '' for God . Muslims believe Allah , an Arabic word , should only be used by Muslims . A stay has been placed on the order on the grounds of national interest .

Muslims took to the streets Friday to protest the use of the word by non-Muslims , and authorities such as Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called for the matter to be resolved in court amicably and expressed hope the protests do n't deteriorate .

`` We should not raise the tension level in this country , '' he said Thursday , as quoted by Bernama , the Malaysian National News Agency .

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin , Malaysia 's head of state , on Friday called for calm and the spirit of unity , according to a Bernama report .

The three churches attacked were in the Kuala Lumpur region . They are the Metro Tabernacle Church , the Assumption Church and the Life Chapel . The attacks occurred late Thursday night and early Friday .

`` It 's incumbent upon the Malaysian government to investigate the church bombings and to prosecute the perpetrators of this religiously motivated violence , '' said Leonard Leo , chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom , an independent federal agency that makes recommendations to Congress and the president regarding how to handle violations of religious freedom around the world .

`` There are many parts of the world where Christians do use the world ` Allah ' in their translations of the Bible , '' he told CNN in a telephone interview . `` So the Malaysian Supreme Court ruling that overturns the government 's ban on the use of the word is not inconsistent with what the practice would be elsewhere around the world . The Malaysian ban is what 's unusual , not the court 's ruling . ''

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Muslims oppose recent court ruling allowing a Catholic newspaper to use the word `` Allah '' for God

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60 percent of the people in Malaysia are Muslim , while 9 percent are Christian

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The three churches attacked were in the Kuala Lumpur region of the country